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If you’re a fan of biz jets, there’s one airport in the UK that is a must-see thanks to the huge number of private aircraft which fly in and out every day.
London Luton Airport
Luton is considered a regional airport. It is named London Luton thanks to its relative proximity to the capital, some 30 miles to the south.
It is also conveniently located just off the M1 motorway, which is a major road artery leading out of London to the north.
The airport is popular with passenger airlines – particularly low-cost carriers like easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air, who all maintain a heavy presence here.
Biz Jets at Luton
However, a major draw for Luton are the Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) who operate there and handle private jet and prop aircraft from around the world.
Again, the proximity of London makes this an attractive place for business people, politicians and VIPs to fly into. Larger, more central airports like Heathrow and London City often have restrictions on the number of private aircraft movements, meaning Luton is one of the next nearest alternatives.
On any given day, some 30 or 40 private aircraft can be parked up at Luton, either on short visits, or extended stays awaiting the return flights.
Some of these aircraft are based at the airport, but others fly in from distant parts of the world and can be quite exotic to the plane spotter.
Where Can You Spot Biz Jets at Luton?
Luton has a cramped and confusing central area which includes the terminals, car parks, roads, hotels and administration buildings. You will see signs around this area discouraging spotters from stopping. If you have some time to spend here, it’s best to spend it at the viewing area alongside the runway. Otherwise a quick stop to log through the fence should be fine.
Spotting Locations
- Central Area
Driving around the access roads to the hangars, cargo centre and other parts of the central complex will offer glimpses of many business jets and other aircraft parked around the various aprons. You can park at the Holiday Inn for the nearer ramps - Long Stay
Further round, the Long Stay Term car park for free up to an hour (follow the road as far as you can) to log the biz jets parked alongside it. - Crash Gate
The postcode for the crash gate is LU2 8PE. From the central terminal area it is a complicated route along country lanes via the village of Beechwood Green. At the end of the lane leading to the crash gate, there is a small area for parking. Keep the crash gate clear at all times! Views of aircraft using the runway are good from here, and photography is possible.
Airport Spotting Guides UK & Ireland
The latest edition of our popular guide book, Airport Spotting Guides UK & Ireland is out now. It details where to spot at London Luton and 150 other airports, airfields and military airfields around England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. A great resource for plane spotters!
